Luckily Lawrence was changing gear, a noisy and a perilous process, and he did not hear this remark.

“The fellow who taught me said that it’s amazing how dense some people are about learning. Then too, lots of men start driving much too fast. I don’t approve of that at all.”

“Thank God!” said Mr. Hengist fervently.

“The whole point about a car, to my mind, is enjoyment,” Lawrence said, swerving drunkenly to avoid a pothole. “There’s nothing enjoyable in scorching.” Experimentally and cautiously he removed one hand from the wheel. It was rather daring, he felt, but impressive. “Elizabeth wants me to teach her,” he said. “I don’t think there’d be any harm in it. Of course I shouldn’t let her drive about alone. Either Jenkins or I would go with her in .case of accidents. It was really an excellent idea of mine to buy a car. I can’t think why I never did it before. By the way, what do you think of my little girl? I took a hand in choosing her clothes. Poor Anne —she means well, but she can’t dress. I don’t know whether you’ve noticed it? I flatter myself Elizabeth looks very well in her new things, very well indeed. What do you think?”

“She’s very pretty,” Mr. Hengist agreed.

“Not only that, Hengist. Of course you don’t know her as I do, because you’re not her father, but I assure you her beauty isn’t only facial. When I see all these modern young minxes with their cigarettes and their backless gowns, I realise what a complete success Elizabeth’s upbringing has been. No offhand manners and horrible slang words, but—well, I often think myself that she’s just like a violet. Some poet or other, I’ve forgotten for the moment who it was, wrote something remarkably apt about a violet. Just fits my little girl. Something about ‘modest violet in the dell.’ I daresay you know what I mean?”

“No, but it sounds fairly mawkish. I’m willing to admit that Elizabeth has nice manners. She spoils herself by being insincere.”

“Ah, that’s where you’re wrong,” said Lawrence. “I don’t believe my little girl has ever entertained an unkind thought about anyone. She has such an affectionate disposition.”

“When did you discover all this?” Mr. Hengist asked.

Lawrence looked rather hurt.

“It’s natural that her father should know what she’s really like,” he said.

They came into traffic so that out of consideration for his own safety Mr. Hengist forbore to retort. A van-driver asked Lawrence what the ruddy hell he thought he was doing, but otherwise there was no unpleasantness. Lawrence emerged triumphant and remarked that one soon got into the way of guiding a car through traffic.